Tooth



March 1956 s. E. LYNN 2,738,582

TOOTH Filed Aug. 12, 1954 INVENTOR.

Samuel E. Lynn ATTORNEY United States Pate TOOTH Samuel E. Lynn, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Application August 12,1954, Serial No. 449,458

10 Claims. (Cl. 328) The subject matter of this invention is a functionally and structurally improved tooth for a denture adapted to be removably retained to the roof of the mouth by suction. One object of the invention comprehends the utilization of a novel tooth adapted to be opened or closed for cleaning purposes and comprising a swingable gate having means for removably interlocking with keeper means of a rotatable and detachable plug carrying a closure cap whereby the gate is held against accidental opening and whereby the closure cap is held against accidental shifting away from the casing of the tooth when the gate is fully closed. Specifically, another object is to provide a swingable gate adapted to render the interior chamber of the" shell of the tooth accessible as desired to permit prompt irrigation and cleaning thereof without however detaching the plug from the shell. in the provision of complementary locking means embodying a resilient and compensatory loop on the swingable gate and keeper means on the rotatable plug whereby the loop may be frictionally and wedgeably but removably received by the keeper means to hold the gate against accidental opening. Other important objects and advantages will appear from the following specification considered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a denture particularly showing the tooth in accordance with my invention and with the hinged gate thereof closed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional view taken on the ofiset line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the tooth exhibiting the hinged gate about to be fully closed and just prior to engagement of the resilient catch with the rotatable keeper means in the form of a closure carrying plug to preclude accidental rotation of the latter at a time when the swingable gate is fully closed, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view on a smaller scale illustrating the manner of swingably sustaining the gate in respect to the fixed fulcrum pin.

In the drawings, the tooth according to the invention is generally denoted T and embodies a casing CS having an internally arranged hollow cylindrical metal shell S provided with the internal bore divided by a truncated partition 11 preferably integral with the shell. By reason of this construction, shell S may be said to characterize the upper annular rim 12 and the lower annular rim 13.

Shell S is appropriately embedded within casing CS which may be porcelain or of a suitable dental plastic. The internal bore 10 of upper rim l2 and the upper faces of the truncated partition 11 are also lined by and anchored to annular skirt SK depending from the upper part of the casing CS and bottom wall BW merging with skirt SK, thus forming a recess 14adapted to initially and closely receive the cylindrical depending portion or boss 15 of denture D. v

A further object is realized ice As shown, the internal bore' of lower rim 13 is threaded to provideteeth TI in engagement with'teeth 115 of the externally threaded cylindrical plug P to which the plastic denture closure cap C is fixedly molded or anchored.

Within the upper part of annular rim 13 and cooperating with partition 11 is the rubber or resilient suction cup SC secured to rod 16 slidably guided in the alined and axially arranged openings 17 and 18 of plug P and cap C respectively.

In the fully closed position of cap 'C the upper annular but flat face 19 of the annular rim 20 of cap C is against the alined bottom stop faces or surfaces 21, 22 and 23 of the casing CS, lower rim 13, and the lower part of wall 24 of denture D.

Interrupting partition 11 is the aperture 25 in alinement with perforation 26 in bottom wallBW and communicating with perforation 26 is opening or bore 28 interrupting the body of the plastic denture D and its depending portion or boss 15 to which skirt SK and bottom wall BW are fixedly anchored in any well known manner.

To preclude rotation of plug P after cap C is fully closed, namely, when against the alined lower stop faces 21 and 22 of casing CS and rim 13, appropriate locking means is provided. To this end, it will be observed that the adjustable and rotatable plug P is interrupted by notch N for closely and frictionally receiving the compensatory resilient loop or catch 30 intergal with sheet metal arcuate bar 31 embedded in the denture plastic swingable gate or closure GT. More specifically bar 31 terminates in the rounded or looped bearing 32 rotatably surrounding pin 33 fixedly retained within and by the spaced annular parts 34 of the eye shaped bolts having shanks as 35 anchored to casing CS.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, gate GT is shut, thus completely closing the horizontal opening 36 interrupting casing CS. As shown in Fig. 2 the upper and lower walls of opening 36 slope inwardly towards each other to re ceive the corresponding upper and lower sloping or bevelled surfaces 37 and 38 of the swingable gate, also note Fig. 5.

Where gate GT is shut, rim 20 of cap C abuts the lower surfaces or faces 21, 22 and 23; and loop or catch 30 extends across alined relief slots or gaps 39 and 40 in casing CS and shell S and into notch N of the rotatable plug P to interlock with the latter, hence preventing rotation of the plug relative to casing CS and shell S. Stated in another way, plug P includes along its margin keeper means embodying notch N for frictionally and wedgeably receiving the loop or terminal catch 30 of bar 31 to preclude cap C moving away from shell S, casing CS and denture D, and at the same'time retain gate GT against accidental opening.

For purposes of specification casing CS may be considered as an annular body embodying the horizontally arranged opening 36 along the width thereof and adapted to be closed by the hinged door or gate GT which may be said to be complementary to annular body of the casing.

When free of plug P, loop 30 is normally expanded but when entering notch N the sides of loop 30 are urged towards each other. It follows that when gate GT is fully shut, the outward thrust imparted by the spaced sides of loop 30 against the walls of notchN, holds the plug in place and against rotation concomitantly holding the gate GT fully closed.

Terminal of rod 16 extends slightly below and outside ofcap C and serves as means to actuate suction cup SC for maintaining the denture to the gum of the user as is well appreciated.

During use, if the tooth, collects particles of food, prompt cleaning thereofmay be .had. In this connection, gateVGT may be opened by the user who merely applies outward finger nail pressure within concavity 41 against-lip 42; hence' overcoming" the frictional engage-' ment of loop 30 against the walls of notch N. In such case, gate GT swings outwardly,.hinging. onfulcrum pin 33 and manifestlytloop 30' is also removed from notch,

these parts as desired after which they are conveniently reassembled in which case, the gate is againxclosed, thus providing the double: function on the part of the keeper.

means and loop, namely,' in preventing. accidental rotation of the'plug and in maintaining the gate. locked against accidental opening.

As is well'un'derstood, where particles of food collect within the upper part of bore or chamber 60 of rim 13, at times it may not be necessary to'completely detach plug P from casing CS, in the: matter of removing such particles since plugtP after unlocking gate GT,'may be adjusted by rotation until its top face 61is substantially at the level of the bottom surfaces of relief gaps or slots 39 and 40 of rim 13 and casing CS,.and thereafter chamber 60 may be promptly irrigated and cleaned through and when gate GT is open.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scopeof this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others and as many changes could be made in'the above set forth embodiment and many widely different embodiments could be devised without departing from'the scopethereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and as shown in the the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A tooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a substantially annular casing provided with an opening along the width thereof, a plug in part within said casing, a cap secured to the lower part of said plug, means adjustably and rotatably holding said plug relative to said casing, a gate for rendering said opening accessibleor inaccessible, means movably holding said gate relative to said casing; and complementary locking means to hold said gate fully shut across said opening and preclude rotation of said plug to retainsaid cap against said casing.

2. A tooth adapted to be'retained by a denture, comprising; a substantiallyannular' casing provided with an opening along the width thereof, a plug in part within said casing, a cap secured tothe-lowerpart of said plug,

means adjustably-and rotatably holding said plug relative to said casing, a gate for rendering said opening accessible or inaccessible, means hingedly holding said gate relative to said casing; and'complementary locking'means, to removably hold said gate 'fully shut across said opening and preclude rotation of'said' plugto retain'said cap against the lower part of said casing;

3. A tooth adaptedtobe retained by-a denture, comprising; a substantially annular-casing provided with an opening along the width thereof, a plug in partwithin said casing, a cap securedt'o'the lowerpart of said plug,

means adjustablyend rotatably holding said plug relative to said casing, a gate for rendering. said opening accessible or;inaccessible,means'hingedly holding'said' gate relative to said casing, said plug having-1 keeper means, and a catch carriedxbyv said gateifor removably interlocking'withsaid'keeper means for holding said gate fully shut across said opening.

4. A tooth adapted to be retained-by a denture, comprising; a substantiallyannular-casing provided with: an

means adjustably and rotatably and removably holding said plug relativeto saidcasing, a gate for rendering said opening accessible or inaccessible, means hingedly holding said gate relative to said casing, said piug having a notch, and a catch carried by said gate for removably interlocking and frictionally interlocking with the walls of said notch for holding said gate fully shut across said opening and to preclude rotation of said plug relative to said casing.

5. A tooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a substantially annular casing provided with an opening .along the width thereof, a fixed partition within said casing and defining therewith a chamber, a plug in part within said casingand in part defining said chamber, a cap secured to the lower part of said plug, said partition having a perforation, a suction cup within said chamber below said perforation, means adjustably and rotatably holding said plug relative to said casing, a gate for rendering said opening accessible or inaccessible, means hingedly holding said gate relative to said casing, a rod secured to said cup and having terminal means extending below said cap, said cap and plug having means for slidably guiding said rod, said plug having keeper means, and a catch carriedby said gate for removably interlocking with' said keeper means for holding said gate fully shut across said opening and to preclude rotation of said plug to maintain said cap against said casing.

6. Atooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a hollow casing having an opening intermediate thereof and an open bottom face, a hollow shell secured within and closely surrounded by said casing and having a gap intermediate'thereof and in alinement with said opening, said shellhaving an internally threaded surface and having an openbottom surface, a gate receivable in said opening to fully shut the latter, means movably supporting said gate relative to said opening to render the latter accessible or inaccessible, a partition within and intermediate said shell and above said gap and having a perforation, a resilient suction cup cooperating with said partition and disposed below and surrounding said perforation, an adjustable plug in part within said shell and in part extending below the latter and said casing, said plug having externally arranged threads for adjustably interconnecting with said threaded surface, a cap outside of said casing and fixedly carried by said plug and having a rim adapted to abut said bottom face and bottom surface, means for removably locking said gate when fully closing said opening, and a rod connected to said cup and-slidably guided by said plug and cap and having a lower terminal portion normally projecting slightly below the latter.

7. A tooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a hollow casing having an opening intermediate thereof and an open bottom face, a hollow shell secured within and closely surrounded by said casing and having a gap intermediate thereof and in alinement with said opening, said'shell having an internally threaded surface and havingan open bottom surface, a gate receivable in said opening to fully shut the latter, means movably supporting said gate relative to said opening to render the latter accessible or inaccessible, a partition within and intermediate said shell and above said gap and having a perforation, a resilient suction cup cooperating with said partition and disposed below and surrounding said perforation, an adjustable plug in'part within said shell and in part extending below the latter and said casing, said plug having externally arranged threads for adjustably interconnecting with said threaded surface, a cap outside of said casing and fixedly carried by said plug and having a rim adapted to abut said bottom face and bottom surface, catch and keeper means on said gate and plug for removably locking said gate when fully closing said opening, and a rod conneeted to said cup and slidably guided-hy-saidiplug,and' cap-and having a lower terminal portion normally projecting slightly below the latter.

8. A tooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a hollow casing having an opening intermediate thereof and an open bottom face, a hollow shell secured within and closely surrounded by said casing and having a gap intermediate thereof and in alinement with said opening, said shell having an internally threaded surface and having an open bottom surface, a gate receivable in said opening to fully shut the latter, means movably supporting said gate relative to said opening to render the latter accessible or inaccessible, a partition within and intermediate said shell and above said gap and having a perforation, a resilient suction cup cooperating with said partition and disposed below and surrounding said perforation, an adjustable plug in part within said shell and in part extending below the latter and said casing, said plug having externally arranged threads for adjustably interconnecting with said threaded surface, a cap outside of said casing and fixedly carried by said plug and having a rim adapted to abut said bottom face and bottom surface, means for removably locking said gate when fully closing said opening, said gate and plug having means to preclude rotation of said plug when said gate fully closes said opening, and a rod connected to said cup and slidably guided by said plug and cap and having a lower terminal portion normally projecting slightly below the latter.

9. A tooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a hollow casing having an opening intermediate thereof and an open bottom face, a hollow shell secured within and closely surrounded by said casing and having a gap intermediate thereof and in alinement with said opening, said shell having an internally threaded surface and having an open bottom surface, a gate receivable in said opening to fully shut the latter, means hingedly supporting said gate relative to said opening to render the latter accessible or inaccessible, a partition within and intermediate said shell and above said gap and having a perforation, a resilient suction cup cooperating with said partition and disposed below and surrounding said perforation, an adjustable plug in part within said shell and in part extending below the latter and said casing, said plug having externally arranged threads for adjustably interconnecting with said threaded surface, a cap outside of said casing and fixedly carried by said plug and having a rim adapted to abut said bottom face and bottom surface, a catch extending from said gate, said plug having means to receive said catch for removably locking said gate when fully closing said opening and for preventing rotation of said plug relative to said casing, and a rod connected to said cup and slidably guided by said plug and cap and having a lower terminal portion normally projecting slightly below the latter.

10. A tooth adapted to be retained by a denture, comprising; a hollow casing having an opening intermediate thereof and an open bottom face, a hollow shell'secured within and closely surrounded by said casing and having a gap intermediate thereof and in alinement with said opening, said shell having an internally threaded surface and having an open bottom surface, a gate receivable in said opening to fully shut the latter, means movably supporting said gate relative to said opening to render the latter accessible or inaccessible, a partition within and intermediate said shell and above said gap and having a perforation, a resilient suction cup cooperating with said partition and disposed below and surrounding said perforation, an adjustable plug in part within said shell and in part extending below the latter and said casing, said plug having externally arranged threads for adjustably interconnecting with said threaded surface, a cap outside of said casing and fixedly carried by said plug and having a rim adapted to abut said bottom face and bottom surface, a bar carried by said gate and having a resilient catch, said plug having means to receive said catch for removably locking said gate when fully closing said opening and preclude rotation of said plug to hold said cap against said casing, and a rod connected to said cup and slidably guided by said plug and cap and having a lower terminal portion normally projecting slightly below the latter.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,478 Valbuena Apr. 15, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 812,340 Germany Aug. 27, 1951 

